Green Bay Packers scout, who helped spot Rodgers, Matthews and Adams, receives Harlan award
GREEN BAY — Sam Seale, Green Bay Packers national scout, had a hand in some of the team's best draft choices in the past 30 years, including Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Davante Adams and Kenny Clark.
Seale will receive the Bob Harlan Leadership Award from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame during the annual induction banquet on Aug. 29 in the Lambeau Field Atrium. The award, named after the former Packers president and CEO, recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership throughout their career with the Packers. They must serve with integrity, character and determination emblematic of Harlan.
Seale was hired as a college scout by General Manager Ron Wolf in 1995. He's worked for general managers Wolf, Mike Sherman, Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst. He initially covered the Southwest and West Coast regions, and was promoted to national scout in 2018.
In his 29 seasons with the Packers, Seale advocated for drafting Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Devante Adams and Kenny Clark. Rodgers is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer and Matthews will be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame, along with defensive end Aaron Kampman, in August. Adams plays for the Las Vegas Raiders after a hall of fame-level stint with the Packers, and Clark is the Packers' top defensive lineman.
More: Clay Matthews and Aaron Kampman, Packers Hall of Fame picks, reflect on time in Green Bay
“Sam is fantastic,” Gutekunst said. “He’s a really good scout. He does it his own way. Great personality, played with the Raiders when they were very good. But Sam has a unique ability to get to know players. What makes them tick. He has always been able to talk to players in a way where he can discern what they’re made of. He’s got a gift that way.”
Packers historian Cliff Christl wrote that before the 2005 draft, Seale had the top two quarterbacks in the country in his territory: Alex Smith of Utah and Rodgers of California. San Francisco took Smith No. 1 overall, while Rodgers slipped to 24th, where the Packers picked him. But on Seale's scouting reports, he gave a higher grade to Rodgers than Smith.
Seale and Thompson were the lone scouts in the Packers organization to mark Matthews as a first-round draft choice, Christl wrote. The Packers picked him 26th in the 2009 draft. He had a stellar career with Green Bay, including 83.5 sacks in 10 years, the most in Packers history.
"Sam had what we call a 'difference-maker' grade on him," said Gutekunst.
Seale played 10 years at defensive back for the Los Angeles Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. His best years were 1989-91, when he was with the Chargers. He started 41 games and had six of his career 11 interceptions.
Limited tickets and tables are available for the banquet. For tickets or information, contact Sam Kluck at samk@packershalloffame.com.
BOB HARLAN LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS:
2019 - Jerry Parins
2020 - Bud Selig
2022 - Dr. Pat McKenzie
2023 - Ted Eisenreich
Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Packers Scout Sam Seale to get Bob Harlan Leadership Award
